Lawn Watering Guidelines

Water conservation. It’s up to you!


The average 6 station sprinkler system uses over 2,500 gallons of water per watering. Eliminating one or two waterings can reduce your usage by thousands of gallons each month.


To check if your lawn needs water, step on it. If it springs back when you step off, it doesn’t need water. If there are spots turning a bluish/grey cast, these spots need water, not the entire lawn. Use a hose and sprinkler to water these areas. If pulling hose is not an option, only water the station that is dry. Over time the roots will grow deeper requiring less water to be applied.


Check to see if you are watering sidewalks, driveways, streets or gutters, and adjust the sprinkler heads as needed.


Remember, it is best to water in the evenings and morning’s when the sun is not out and temperatures are not hot. This will minimize evaporation, utilizing more of the water. Some areas of the county have windy conditions consistently in the mornings, avoid watering during these times.


Cut back watering on cool or rainy days. Set your lawn mower blades no less than 3” during the warmest part of the season. Longer grass means less evaporation. Mulching your lawn reintroduces moisture and nutrients which aids in moisture retention. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. This will also reduce evaporation


The average homeowner will waste more than 25% of their outside water this year on their lawn. Take a minute to check your sprinkler system, using the following guidelines, and get maximum use from your sprinkler system. Is the water you are using being evenly distributed over your lawn? Find a few containers in your home, and measure the amount of water each section of your lawn is getting. Repair heads and set stations according to your findings.



• How much are you watering? On average, you should be watering 1/2”- 3/4”each day that you irrigate. On average this takes spray type heads 20-30 minutes and rotor type heads 45-60 minutes depending on how good the coverage is.


• How often should you water? During the hot summer months, you should water once every 2-3 days, giving an extra day for exceptional heat, or skipping a day during a rainy, cool week. In the spring and fall, you can reduce irrigation to once every 4-5 days. Never water everyday. Lawn should be allowed to dry out between waterings to avoid conditions conducive for fungus.


• Always water deep and infrequently instead of shallow and frequently.


• If watering is not keeping the lawn alive there could be something else going on such as grubs or fungus, please call us with questions or concerns.

Suggested Water Schedule